asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many naval establishments the Board of Admiralty maintains in the constituency of Petersfield; and how many private dwellings are needed to house naval personnel.

There are four naval establishments in the Peters-field constituency. There are 101 hirings occupied by naval personnel, 33 of which are occupied by personnel from the four establishments. I have no record of private arrangements which are made for accommodation.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many persons are employed at the 22 Admiralty research and development establishments; how many of these establishments are in Scotland; and how many are employed at them.

On 1st January this year there were 7,093 people employed in the twenty-two Admiralty research and development establishments. Three of these establishments are in Scotland employing 552 persons.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he accepts the comment of the Estimates Committee in their 5th Report of the present Session on the Admiralty in regard to the appointment of civilians to senior naval posts; and why the temporary appointment of a naval officer in 1961 as head of the Central Services Section of the Weapons Department is still being continued.

As I informed the House on 14th February, 1961, it is our policy to employ naval officers only where their experience and qualifications make that essential. This applies to the post of Head of the Central Services Section in the Weapons Department, the duties of which call for naval experience. The post is not filled on a temporary basis.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of the total cost of the British Polaris submarine system will fall on the Admiralty.

The greater part of the cost will fall on Navy Votes, but part of the cost will fall to the Ministry of Public Building and Works and to the Ministry of Aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average annual rent received for lands held by the War Office in the constituency of Petersfield leased for agricultural purposes where they are surplus to immediate military requirements.

Apart from some 125 acres which are being disposed of, the War Department holds no land in the hon. Lady's constituency which is surplus to military requirements. Over the past two years the average annual rental from agricultural and grazing lettings in the constituency was £1,850.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the increasing concern felt by military pensioners that no alteration is made to their pensions to offset the rise in the cost of living since 1935, whether he will now consider the position.

Since the war, six pensions increase measures have partly offset the rise in the cost of living for those eligible to benefit from them. I do not think we should be justified in altering the conditions of eligibility

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the current prices being quoted to blind workshops for bedding repair contracts by each Army command; and what representations have been received from organisations responsible for blind workers.

It is not customary to disclose prices for Government contracts. We operate the special Government procedure under which "Priority Suppliers", such as blind workshops, are given an opportunity to requote at the lowest price bid if their tenders are not lowest in the first place.Recently a very low price for bedding work was tendered in error by another supplier, and Northern Command offered the work at that price to the Birmingham blind workshops. As a result, I received representations from the hon. Members for Aston (Mr. J. Silverman) and Northfield (Mr. Chapman) on behalf of the Birmingham City Council and the workshops. The mistaken tender has since been withdrawn and we have made a new offer to the blind workshops. I hope that they will be able to accept it. I very much regret that this error occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the capital cost of providing the electronic computer installation at Worthy Down; and what consequent saving in manpower there has been.

About £1,800,000. We have saved about 575 staff.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a number of British Service men have lost their lives while on patrol in the Sheikhdom of Oman.

I am not aware of any incident in which members of the British Army serving in Oman have lost their lives, since that in Apil, 1962, when two soldiers were killed by lightning.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in coal mining areas are currently engaged in experiments of tree planting on old pit bings; what financial assistance is available for such projects; and what steps are contemplated to increase their number.

So far as I am aware no local authority is carrying out such experiments. In development districts such planting would normally qualify for grant under Section 5 of the Local Employment Act. As the hon. Member knows, the rate of grant was increased last week with the object of encouraging more work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what methods are employed to secure the selection of suitable persons to fill vacancies on regional hospital boards, and on hospital boards of management.

As required by statute my right hon. Friend consults universities, local health authorities and several medical, nursing and other organisations before making appointments to regional hospital boards. The regional boards themselves follow a similar procedure in making appointments to boards of Management.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts for hospital supplies were placed by his Department and by regional hospital boards with firms manufacturing in areas scheduled under the Local Employment Act, 1960; what was the total sum involved in each case; and in how many of these cases the placing was the result of giving preference to firms so located.

In the last financial year, 14 contracts were placed by the Department in development districts and 328 by regional hospital boards, the respective values being £21,600 and £1,454,000. The number of regional board contracts is more than half the total number of contracts placed by them but none can be directly attributed to the preference scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now completed his consideration of the granting of subsidies in respect of mobile houses associated with redevelopment operations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider approving the payment of subsidy for a limited period in respect of mobile houses, provided they are houses as defined in the Housing Acts, are soundly constructed, and that the emergency character of the local housing circumstances specially justifies their use.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement on the Mackenzie Committee Report on Electricity in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on the Mackenzie Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will be able to make a statement on the proposals in the Mackenzie Report before Easter.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotand if he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee on Transport Services in the Highlands and Islands.

This report is now under consideration. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the proposed new generating station for the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

Consultations are still in progress between the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the National Coal Board on the question of the price at which coal can be supplied for this station.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to expedite the solution to Glasgow's housing problem, with special reference to new towns and overspill.

I would expect that steps already taken to increase the provision of housing in new towns and overspill receiving areas and the substantial help being given by the Scottish Special Housing Association within the city itself will make a major contribution to Glasgow's housing problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of junior secondary schools in Lanarkshire; what proportion of the county's secondary school population is enrolled in those schools; and how many of those schools provide instruction in a language other than English.

In January, 1963, there were 54 junior secondary schools in Lanarkshire, attended by 39 per cent. of the county's secondary pupils: nine provided instruction in a language other than English. In addition, nine schools, attended by 18 per cent. of the secondary school population, provided four-year courses leading to the Ordinary grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education, and in all of these a language was taught.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the proposals for a ferry service between Stornoway and Ullapool; what public expenditure this would involve in respect of landing and servicing facilities at the termini; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no approach about such a proposal since March, 1962, when the promoters were told that, in the circumstances then prevailing, there was no prospect of Government assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will convene and participate in an early conference of Highland local authorities and other public bodies concerned to discuss the new problems arising from the proposed closing of rail passenger services affecting the Western Highlands and Islands.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has invited the Scottish Local Authority Associations to consider and comment upon the Beeching proposals and it would be better to wait until their views are known before deciding whether it would be appropriate to have a meeting of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has not yet arrived at a decision concerning the improvement of the canal and railway bridges in Preston Road, Linlithgow, which were the subject of a public inquiry in July, 1962.

The report of the inquiry, which was concerned with an amendment to the West Lothian county development plan, raises difficult issues. My right hon. Friend hopes however that an early decision will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average weekly rate burden on local authority houses in each local authority area in Scotland.

—						1960–61		1961–62
						Actual	Adjusted*	Actual	Adjusted*
						Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Houses (privately owned)	…	…	…	…	…	35·9	29·5	32·2	26·6
Houses (local authority)	…	…	…	…	…	23·7	19·5	20·4	16·8
Industrial	…	…	…	…	…	7·5	6·2	12·9	10·6
Commercial	…	…	…	…	…	32·9	27·0	19·5	16·1
Miscellaneous	…	…	…	…	…			15·0	12·4
Equivalent of Equalisation Grant	…	…	…	…	…	—	17·8	—	17·5
* Share after taking account of rateable value equivalent of Exchequer Equalisation Grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimate he has made of the increase in Exchequer equalisation grants in Scotland which will arise from the revaluation of property in England and Wales;(2) what will be the effect of revaluation in England and Wales on the

I shall circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT as Soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average rateable value of privately-owned rented houses in Scotland.

The average rateable value of all privately-owned houses in 1962–63 is £31; a separate figure for rented houses is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average weekly burden of rates on all domestic properties in Scotland.

Including domestic water rate, 12s. 0½d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the shares of total rateable value attributable to each of the different classes of property when rateable value equivalent of the Exchequer equalisation grant is taken into account;(2) what was the distribution of rateable values between different classes of property in Scotland before and after the last revaluation.

The shares of rateable value in 1960–61 (i.e. before revaluation) and in 1961–62 (i.e. after revaluation) were as follows:general and other grants paid to Scottish local authorities.

On the basis of present information, the estimated increase in Exchequer equalisation grant in Scotland in 1963–64 as a result of revaluation in England and Wales is about £2 million. Other grants are not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of fatal road accidents which occurred in Scotland during 1962 involved vehicles which were parked on the highway.

I am sorry that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the reorganisation of local government areas in Scotland.

I am giving some thought to this subject, but have no suggestions to put forward as yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the proposal to supply central Scotland with water from Loch Lomond.

The working party of local water authorities which has been studying this question has reported that the scheme is a sound and economical one and that a start should be made on it as soon as practicable. While I cannot myself comment on the merits of the scheme in advance of the statutory procedure for authorising it, I am particularly gratified to know that every care has been taken to see that the amenity of the Loch will in no way be affected and that there will be the minimum disturbance, if any, to other interests. In view of the urgency of obtaining additional supplies for housing and economic development in central Scotland, I am writing to the authorities concerned inviting them to proceed, as they propose, with advance preparations for the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects work to start on the extension to the Garrick Hospital, Stranraer; and when it will be completed.

The building programme of the Western Regional Hospital Board includes many schemes to which they give higher priority and I am not able to forecast when it will be possible for them to make a start on this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many girls under 18 years of age were released by their employers to attend courses for part-time education in each year since and including 1956–57; and what percentage of the estimated number of insured girl employees those numbers represented.

Figures are not available for 1956–57, but for subsequent years the information about girls under 18 is as follows:

(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Year	Estimated numbers insured at end of May	Numbers released by employers for part-time further education	(c)as percentage of (b)
1957–58	81,000	2,815	3·48
1958–59	82,000	2,911	3·55
1959–60	85,000	2,940	3·46
1960–61	83,000	3,053	3·68
1961–62	86,000	3,226	3·75

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the results of fishing, giving herrings separately, by North-East Scotland fishing fleets during the last six months; and how these figures compare with the corresponding figures for last year.

The information sought by the hon. and learned Member is not available in the precise form in which he asks for it. The following are statistics of the fish landed by British vessels during the six months' period October to March, 1961–62 and 1962–63, at the fishing ports of North-East Scotland. The landings during the last six months were much better than in the previous winter and I hope this improvement will be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State far Scotland if he is aware that the Morrison Committee Report on the Probation Service was published in March, 1962; what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken or propose to take to implement the recommendations in that Report, particularly the recommendation that there should be a single negotiating body for the whole of Great Britain; and when the recommendations will be implemented.

Yes. I have consulted the bodies concerned on the Morrison Committee's recommendations regarding the organisation and administration of the Probation Service and their role in matrimonial conciliation; and I am now considering their views. I expect shortly to receive the advice from the Scottish Probation Advisory and Training Council on the Committee's recommendations on recruitment and training.As already announced, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I intend to approach the interested parties about the establishment of Great Britain negotiating machinery. But priority had to be given to the recommendations regarding immediate increases in pay, and these were referred to the two existing negotiating bodies. A settlement has been reached in England and Wales, and arbitration is in progress on Scottish salaries. The Industrial Court held a hearing on the dispute in Edinburgh yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing unemployment which has arisen in the North of Scotland because of the delays in approving hydro-electric schemes; and what steps he is taking to have approval given to schemes at Nevis and elsewhere already published by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

I appreciate that the volume of construction work on hydroelectric schemes has fallen, but consultations about future schemes are being pressed forward urgently. The statutory procedure in relation to the four schemes already published has yet to be completed, and I must also be assured that the part they can play in meeting Scotland's increasing electricity needs is such as to justify the relatively heavy demand they make on capital resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many proposals from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the building of generating stations have ben received by him and are awaiting authorisation.

Four. The statutory procedure in relation to these schemes has yet to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect upon Scotland of the proposed railway reorganisation.

In the light of my planning and highway responsibilities, I am examining with my colleagues the implications of the proposals for the reshaping of British Railways. It is, however, too early for any firm conclusions to be drawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the letter sent to him by the honourable Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs regarding the views of local ministers on the loss of over 500 jobs through the transfer of linoleum manufacture to a factory in Staines; and what reply he has sent.

I received the hon. Member's letter on 5th April, and will reply in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will offer facilities for the two Royal Air Force technicians, recently sentenced to four months' imprisonment for advocating formation of a group of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, to have their cases considered individually by a conscientious objectors tribunal, with a view to immediate discharge from the force.

These airmen were convicted under Section 69 of the Air Force Act of conduct to the prejudice of good order and Air Force discipline, namely, causing a letter to be published which could have encouraged dissent within the Service. The sentence is due to expire on 12th May, subject to their earning full remission for good conduct. If, however, they wish to claim that their offence was inspired by a conscientious objection to any form of armed service, it is open to them to ask that their case should be heard by the Appellate Tribunal of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from Slough, Eton and Buckinghamshire, public authorities against the proposal to build service stations on the Slough bypass motorway which will occupy over five acres of land in a public park and recreation ground and over 10 acres of land in the green belt; and what replies he has given.

These local authorities have in the course of informal discussions with officials of my Department indicated objection to the siting of a service area for the M.4 motorway anywhere in Buckinghamshire. I have now given the county council formal notice of a proposed development on the only suitable site in the county. This comprises approximately 11 acres, of which 5½ acres is land designated for future development as part of a 180 acre public park. Under the agreed procedure the council will let me have any formal representations they wish to make within two months of the notice.

asked the Minister of Transport if his Department has completed its official investigation in South London into the general difficulties caused by lorry parking in residential streets; and if he will make a statement.

The investigation is not complete, but some progress has been made. Lorry parks are the solution to the greater part of the problem. Since my Working Party was set up, four lorry parks were opened in central London in 1962; and one in Haydon Square, Aldgate, with space for two hundred lorries, has opened this year. More are being planned. It is equally important that these parks, once provided, should be fully used. The police are doing all they can to ensure this. The Working Party itself will continue to keep a close eye on developments and to advise and assist the various bodies concerned with specific aspects of the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now state the commencement date of the Leeds-Sheffield Motorway.

I have nothing at present to add to the Answer which I gave on 19th December to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Worsley).

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps he proposes to take to provide classified roads, paid for by central funds, in the West Country following Dr. Beeching's proposals;(2) what steps he proposes to take to accelerate motorway building in the West Country, following Dr. Beeching's proposals for that area.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the effect that the proposals of the Beeching Report will have on the railways of this country, what consideration he has given to increasing the country's road-building programme.

The Railways Board's report "The Reshaping of British Railways" is being examined. In particular, I am considering what implications it has for the road programme, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will give instructions to widen and resurface the Woodhead trunk road over the Pennines, whose surface has been damaged, rather than continue the uneconomic repairs now being effected;(2) when work will be resumed on the protective barriers on the precipice side of the Woodhead trunk road.

The surface of this road has been extensively damaged by frost. Essential repairs have been undertaken to keep traffic moving. The provision of safety fencing near Woodhead was interrupted by the severe weather but work was resumed earlier this month. The survey work preparatory to widening the existing road was similarly interrupted but as I told the hon. Member on 14th November last we are pressing ahead as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will request the Surrey County Council to reconsider their decision to turn down the application for the construction of a pedestrian tunnel at the side of the Mortlake Road railway bridge, Kew, in view of the danger suffered by pedestrians at the present time.

No, because I agree with the county council that there are more urgent demands upon the funds available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will indicate the total cost of snow clearing in each of the counties of Wales and Monmouthshire for the winter of 1962–63 for Trunk, Class I, Class II, Class III and Unclassified roads, respectively; and when he will make a statement on the extra grants to be allowed for this expenditure.

I have asked the county councils to let me know how much abnormal expenditure they incurred on maintenance of trunk and classified roads last winter. I have not yet had all the replies and I understand that it will be some weeks before I can expect to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the nature of the engineering work being carried on in the Hyde Park underpass at the present time which is resulting in single line traffic through the underpass.

I understand that the work is to do with the lighting and with the expansion joints, not all of which could be completed before the underpass was opened.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the danger to the public caused by the change in the stopping place of buses Nos. 11, 24, 39 and 134 from the end of Whitehall to a place near the Cenotaph, Scotland Yard, Grind-lays Bank and Richmond Mews where now they, with others, concentrate in a narrow neck; and if he will take steps to have their stop restored to its former stand.

As I have already told the hon. and learned Member by letter, these stops were moved by the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner for safety and traffic reasons. I see no cause to invite the Commissioner to review the stops again.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take to initiate further study of the economics of urban traffic in view of the need for them revealed by the Hall Report.

Apart from the work referred to in paragraph 78 of the Hall Report, I am setting about expansion of our efforts in this field.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take to set up formal machinery for bringing economists in the academic world, and other interested people outside his Department, into closer collaboration in the economic background to policy decisions on the lines suggested by the Hall Report.

I shall take advantage of any suitable opportunity for strengthening formal collaboration between my Department and others interested in the economics of transport. But informal contacts are also of great value and I shall continue to encourage them.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the wider use of mud-flaps on motor vehicles.

Experiments have shown that flexible mud-flaps cannot be fitted to motor vehicles in such a way as to prevent the wheels from throwing spray into the path of following vehicles. It is likely that better results could be achieved by improving the design of rigid mud-guarding, which on many vehicles is not well suited for its purpose. Future work is being undertaken with this object in view. If this is successful, it may be possible then to strengthen the regulations by laying clown more precise requirements for mud-guarding.

asked the Minister of Transport if, with a view to legislation, he will take steps to arrange discussions with motor manufacturers on what would be the extra cost per vehicle for the installation of some suitable form of burglar alarm.

No. I do not consider that such legislation would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the provision of some form of safeguard for motor traders who are asked to carry out repairs to a customer's vehicle which necessitates its use on the road when the vehicle has not been issued with the necessary test certificate.

This matter is at present the subject of correspondence between my Department and the Motor Agents' Association. But I see no case for extending the existing provisions.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to publicise the arrangements whereby a motorist who is dissatisfied with the refusal of a test certificate for his vehicle can appeal to him.

Attention is drawn to the right of appeal, and the procedure is briefly explained, by a note clearly printed on the form issued to a vehicle owner when a test certificate is refused.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the number of members of the South-East Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee; where it meets; who are the chairman and secretary; and who are the Dorset representatives.

The South Eastern Area Transport Users Consultative Committee has 18 members including the Chairman, Mr. M. H. Pugh. There are two members from Dorset, County Alderman Colonel the Right Hon. Lord Basing, T.D. and Lieut.-Colonel Sir Mervyn Wheatley, K.B.E., D.L., J.P. The Secretary is Mr. H. C. L. Trickett. The Committee meets wherever it considers most appropriate to deal with the business on hand.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement of Government policy on the recommendations of the Jack Committee Report on Rural Bus Services.

I am awaiting the results of the detailed surveys recently made on my behalf.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to maintain a transport system adequate for the social and industrial needs of Scotland.

The Government's policy is to provide an efficient, economic, and well-balanced transport system for the whole of Great Britain. I am in constant consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State about the special needs of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Soviet ship-purchasing corporation which has been touring this country has now arranged to place any order for British-built ships or is presently conducting negotiations to do so.

I understand that negotiations are in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what annual rate the subsidy to the Forestry Commission is running; and if this subsidy will continue under European Free Trade Area arrangements.

The grant-in-aid to the Forestry Commission in the current financial year is £12 million. It is not a subsidy but an investment in a developing enterprise, and I have no reason to believe that it would be affected by European Free Trade Area arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are the functions of the persons be appoints to agricultural marketing boards, and what are the criteria by which he selects them.

The criteria for selection are set out in Section 2(1)(b) of the Second Schedule to the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. The functions of the Ministers' members are to give the boards the benefit of their experience in fields other than farming and to keep before them the public interest as seen from other points of view. They are, however, expected to share in collective responsibility for the board's decisions; they do not report to Ministers in any way, nor are they instructed by them, and they are their own judges of where the public interest may lie.

asked the Minister of Defence how many widows of Armed Service officers and also widows of other ranks, who lost their husbands before 4th November, 1958, are receiving Service widows' pensions; and how much it would cost in both cases to award them pensions on the same basis as those who were bereaved after that date.

The numbers of widows are 6,242 and 1,530, respectively, and the extra cost of awarding them pensions on the same basis as those bereaved on or after 4th November, 1958, is estimated to be £210,000 and £26,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an assurance that he will take no steps to prevent the supply of aircraft, spare parts, and other military equipment ordered by the Government of the Republic of South Africa from British manufacturers.

I can assure my hon. Friend that there has been no change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this matter since it was stated by my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 31st October, 1962 (O.R. Col. 286). Proposals for the export of military equipment to South Africa, as to other countries, will continue to be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all the unit legislatures have now approved the general proposal to form a new West Indies Federation.

Except in Grenada all the Unit Legislatures have now approved the general proposal to form a new Federation and to take the Report of the East Caribbean Federation Conference, Cmnd. No. 1746 as the basis for discussion at the forthcoming Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Fiscal and Civil Service Commissions of the projected West Indies Federation; and whether a full summary of their work will be available in advance of the forthcoming constitutional conference.

I am planning to publish these reports before the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why approval has been delayed for the following projects in the Gambia, namely, the Bathurst Port Development, the Marine Dockyard Slipway, the purchase of Norwegian secondhand ferries, the completion of 29 miles of the South Bank Road, the construction of the North Bank Road, and the Nurses Training School.

The Gambia's estimated budgetary deficit in 1963 is £590,000. I have advised the Gambia Government that very careful thought should be given to their future development policy, with a view to improving the financial and economic position of the territory; and that therefore, some projects should be postponed pending receipt and examination of the Gambia's comprehensive development plan, which, I understand, will be ready shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the total cost to date of maintaining British troops in British Guiana to support the government of Dr. Cheddi Jagan; and for how much longer it is intended to continue this support.

Our troops are in British Guiana to help preserve law and order. The extra cost of maintaining them in British Guiana, from the date of their arrival in February, 1962, to the end of the financial year 1962–63, was about £110,000. The troops will remain there so long as the need for them persists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amendment of the Bechuanaland Protectorate constitution he has under consideration.

I consider that the time has come to review the constitution of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and to consider some further political advance. I have discussed the matter with the Resident Commissioner and have directed him to initiate consultations in the territory.Any political groups or interested persons in Bechuanaland, who may wish to submit proposals for the amendment of the constitution, are invited to submit them in writing to the Government Secretary in Mafeking.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when the decisions of Her Majesty's Government following the report promised by the Lord President of the Council on the North-East Coast, will be published.

As my hon. Friend knows, a number of measures which will greatly benefit the North-East have been announced in recent weeks. I cannot forecast when any further announcements will be made, but the Government are fully alive to the urgency of the task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to give himself power to require the appointment of traffic wardens in large cities to control traffic, and to deal with minor motoring offences and car meters, and thus release the police for other duties.

I am sure that police authorities are aware of the desirability of employing traffic wardens wherever this would release police officers for other duties, and my right hon. Friend does not think that legislation on the lines proposed is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital boards have made arrangements for the younger chronic sick to be accommodated in special wards with patients of their own age; and if he will consider the payment of a capitation fee to voluntary homes that provide such accommodation.

Eleven. Hospital boards make contractual arrangements with voluntary institutions when they think it desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the best estimate he can make of gain to the Exchequer in indirect taxation in a full year as a result of the proposed increase in teachers' salaries of £21 million assuming that present rates of indirect taxation are maintained.

Between £1 million and £2 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the best estimate he can make of how much he will collect in direct taxation in a full year as a result of the proposed increase in teachers' salaries of £21 million assuming direct taxation rates as proposed in his Budget.

About £5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the number of people with incomes of less than £400 a year now compares with 1950.

For this Question and the following one I would refer my hon. Friend to the National Income and Expenditure Blue Books for 1960 and 1962. No later estimates have been made. In 1961 there were about 9 million incomes between £50 and £400 compared with about 20 million in 1949. The corresponding figure for 1950 is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the number of people with incomes of between £1,000 and £1,500 now compares with 1950.

About 3,850,000 in 1961 compared with 400,000 in 1949.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by what proportion the increase in rates payable on houses in the rural district of Wimborne and Cranborne due to the recent revaluation exceeds the corresponding increases in the adjoining areas of Bournemouth and Poole; and, in view of the fact that many parts of Wimborne and Cranborne do not have street lighting, made-up roads with pavements, main drainage and educational and other amenities, what steps he will take to rectify this anomalous situation.

The average increases in share attributable to revaluation are estimated at 35½ per cent., 21½ per cent., and 19½ per cent., respectively. On or after 1st April, any ratepayer who thinks that the assessment of his house is higher than its rental value justifies can make a proposal for a reduction.

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers were without jobs in the city of Aberdeen during each of the last five years; for how long they were unemployed; how many there are now without jobs; and what are the prospects for them and for those now about to leave school.

The figures for mid-March each year are:

1959	5
1960	Nil
1961	Nil
1962	1
1963	1

Figures are not available for 1958. In 1959, the figures include one summer leaver. This one case apart, all these young people were Christmas leavers and had been unemployed less than three months. I am hopeful that the Easter term leavers will obtain employment without serious difficulty.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of unemployed; and how many have been unemployed for more than four weeks at Port Talbot and Glyncorrwg and Porthcawl.

The following is the information:

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AT 11TH MARCH, 1963, IN THE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS OF PORT TALBOT, CYMMER AND PORTHCAWL
Area	Total	Over 4 weeks
PortTalbot	1,008	880
Cymmer (including Glyncorrwg)	156	135
Porthcawl	190	152

NOTE: Figures are available for employment exchange areas only.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has made for permitting firms to take over existing industrial premises for other industrial purposes, without needing to obtain industrial development certificates, in the south coast area, where redundancy may be caused by the closure of railway workshops.

The acquisition and industrial use of existing industrial premises is not subject to the grant of an industrial development certificate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what type of production the two advance factories in the Fraserburgh-Peterhead area are to be designed.

The two advance factories to be built in the Fraserburgh-Peterhead suitable for a wide range of light industry. area will be general purpose buildings